Luxembourg, Cargolux has accepted its third Boeing 747-8 freighter today and will fly the aircraft from Seattle to Luxembourg, where it joins a fleet currently consisting of Boeing 747 aircraft including nine 747-400F, three 747-400BCF and two 747-8F.

The new aircraft, LX-VCC, City of Ettelbruck, was originally due in late 2011 but the delivery was pushed back by program delays at Boeing according to Cargolux.

The rollover of the Cargolux fleet will continue in 2012. As the carrier builds up its 747-8 freighter fleet, the three leased 747-400BCF, that are currently operated to bridge the capacity gap caused by the delivery delays, are planned to be phased out by year end.

With a growing fleet of advanced, next-generation freighters, Cargolux is steadily decreasing its environmental footprint while benefiting from the aircraft’s lower operating costs and improved economics.

Cargolux have added  in a statement "the new GEnx engines, improved aerodynamics and lighter materials, the Boeing 747-8 freighter provides double-digit improvements in fuel consumption and carbon emissions – well below ICAO limits. The 747-8F is not just cleaner, but also significantly quieter than its predecessor"

Maximum payload capacity:	133.9 metric tonnes
Range:	8,130 km (4,390 nautical miles)
Height:	19.4m
Wing span:	68.4m
Length:	76.3m
Cruise Speed:	Mach 0.85
Maximum takeoff weight:	442,250 kg
Engine:	General Electric GEnx-2B67

Source: Cargolux